Judge to hear NH hep C records dispute on Oct. 17

EXETER, N.H. (AP) — A dispute between the state and Exeter Hospital over access to medical records following a hepatitis C outbreak is scheduled for a hearing.

A judge will hear the case on Oct. 17 in Merrimack County Superior Court.

Exeter Hospital has asked the court to prevent the state from further accessing patient records and conducting staff interviews unless the state is more specific in its requests.

The attorney general's office filed an objection and asked for a hearing, saying hospitals are required by law to provide information during a communicable disease investigation.

Former lab worker David Kwiatkowski was charged with stealing drugs from the hospital and replacing them with tainted syringes that were later used on patients. Thirty-two patients have been diagnosed with the same strain of the virus Kwiatkowski carries.